University of Virginia men's lacrosse player George Huguely has
been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Virginia
women's lacrosse player Yeardley Love, according to Charlottesville
police and as first reported by The Daily Progress.

Officials have not determined a cause of death, but Love's body,
which was found early Monday morning at a 14th Street Northwest
apartment, showed signs of physical trauma. Police were called to
the scene for a possible alcohol overdose and were unsuccessful in
attempts to revive Love, according to a statement.

Investigations are ongoing.

"Police are treating the case as a homicide investigation at
this time," the statement said.

Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo told The Associated
Press that Love's roommate called police around 2:15 a.m. The
roommate, he said, believed she might have overdosed on alcohol,
but when police arrived, "it was quickly apparent to them that this
young lady was the victim of something far worse."

Huguely was then found at his apartment, questioned and arrested
at around 6 a.m., Longo said.

In its own statement, the university said it would support and
cooperate with any police investigations.

"Obviously, we take the death of any student very seriously,"
the statement said.

Huguely, 22, is in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.
Witnesses told police Huguely and Love, also 22, had been in a
relationship.

Both lacrosse players are from Maryland. Huguely, of Chevy Chase
and a Landon School graduate, has played in 15 games this season
for the top-ranked Cavaliers, registering four goals and three
assists. Love, of Cockeysville and a Notre Dame Prep graduate, also
played in 15 games this season, starting three for the
fourth-ranked UVA women. Both teams' regular seasons have
concluded, with each expected to be seeded in their respective NCAA
tournaments when the fields are announced Sunday.

When asked how the death would affect the upcoming tournament,
Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage told the AP it was "not
even entering into our thoughts," but that for the players' sake
the university wanted to "try to get back to some things that are
normal."

The Washington Post contacted the Cockeysville home of Love's
family. According to a Post report, a woman answered the phone
Monday afternoon, identified herself as a designated spokesman and
said, "The family has no comment at this time."

The Post also contacted Huguely's grandfather, George Huguely III,
who told the newspaper: "He was a wonderful child and he was going
to graduate. Hopefully he will be graduating. That's all I can tell
you, okay? I'm sorry."

The university also posted a statement from President John T.
Casteen III about Love’s death and Huguely’s arrest. It
reads, in part: “Although we know nothing other than what
appears in the Charlottesville Police Department’s more
recent statement, this death moves us to deep anguish for the loss
of a student of uncommon talent and promise, and we express the
University’s and our own sympathy for Yeardley’s
family, teammates and friends. That she appears now to have been
murdered by another student compounds this sense of loss by
suggesting that Yeardley died without comfort or consolation from
those closest to her. We mourn her death and feel anger on reading
that the investigators believe that another student caused it."

Mary Bartel, who coached Love in lacrosse at Notre Dame Prep in
Towson, Md., told the Associated Press, "Yeardley was the core of
the personality of the team. She was our laughter, a good
soul."

Huguely was interviewed by the Washington Post in 2006, shortly
after allegations of sexual assault and racist behavior were made
against members of the Duke men's lacrosse team. Charges against
three Duke players were dropped.

"I sympathize for the team," Huguely told the Post at the time.
"They've been scrutinized so hard and no one knows what has
happened yet. In this country, you're supposed to be innocent until
proven guilty. I think that's the way it should be."

Police spokesman Gary Pleasants told Bloomberg that Huguely will
have a bond hearing Tursday in the General District Court. The
hearing can be done via teleconference without moving Huguely from
the jail, Pleasants said.

The spokesman wouldn’t say how authorities connected Huguely
to the murder. He said police are awaiting an autopsy of Love to
determine the cause of death and will continue to gather
evidence.

Check back to Lacrosse Magazine Online for more details as they
unfold in this story.